VIRGIN Media, the Hampshire based cable communications network backed by Richard Branson, pictured, is re-launching its business services and promising a “compelling alternative to BT”.

The NTL-Telewest Business division is to be re-branded as Virgin Media Business, one of the last vestiges of the old company to be brought under the Virgin banner.

Bosses pride themselves on possessing the “only national Next Generation Network in the UK”, a head start that has phone, TV and broadband rival BT scrambling to catch-up.

Mark Heraghty, managing director of Virgin Media Business, said: “Businesses in Hampshire have had a rough ride of late, but as the UK emerges from the recession there is good reason to be positive.

“The county is known for its resilience and spirit of innovation. Faster and smarter communications has an important role to play in helping businesses to build momentum in 2010.

“There is a significant opportunity to leverage the full power of our fibre optic network in the business telecoms market.

“Virgin Media Business will take our strong customer-centric approach to a growing and underexploited market in which there is a need for a compelling and distinctive alternative to BT.”